When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his end – Rev. Fr. Raymond Osei Tutu

Motivation for the week beginning 5th January 2020

Last year we made choices and decisions, some of which were good and others not so good. But, that is past! People have to live with their decisions. Think about yourself first, Make sure that You will be able to live with Yours. We are in a New Year. Let’s live in the present, hopeful for a graceful future, bringing from our past only those things and events that edify and sanctify (Phil 4:8). Here is my advice to you as we begin the year: When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his end.

Two monks were making their way from one monastery to another. In fact, not only were they close friends, but they also enjoyed a teacher-student relationship. The journey involved many days travelling on foot through the forests and countryside, so they spent a great deal of time discussing various aspects of spirituality. At a certain point in their journey, the monks heard the screams of a woman coming from a nearby river. They rushed to see what was happening. They saw a naked woman who was drowning. The older monk swiftly threw off his robes, dived into the water, and rescued the woman. He brought the naked woman to the banks of the river and proceeded to cover her with his spare robes. After assuring himself that she was safe and well, the two monks continued with their journey.

However, the second part of their journey was quite different from the first. The river incident had an influence on the younger monk who, for the rest of the journey, had refused to speak to the older monk. A few days later, the two monks arrived at their destination – a monastery they were going to be staying for the next few months. At the entrance, the young monk started to ostracize the older monk and refused to even acknowledge his presence. The older monk was rather dismayed and confronted the younger monk saying: “Dear friend why have you changed? What have I done to warrant being treated in this manner? If I have said or done something that has hurt you then I am truly sorry”.

The young monk replied: “You are not a true monk – you have broken the rules of our spirituality and as such, I may no longer be associated with you”. The older monk was rather shocked to hear this and asked what rules had been broken. The younger monk replied: “Not only did you touch a woman but you touched a naked woman and gave her the robes of a monk”. “How very true” replied the elder, “Brother, but I put her down on the other side of the river long ago, why are you still carrying her in your mind?”. Are you going to carry her into the monastery?

Do you keep thinking about negative events or words? Do you go on playing the same scene in your mind over and again? Then, YOU better call today, yesterday; and this year, 2019 part 2. Which “baggages” of others and/or yourself are you going to allow into your life and speech in 2020. Let’s live in the present. When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his end. Until we can find a level of peace and happiness in the present circumstances of our lives, we will never be content, because ‘now’ is all we will ever have. Happy New Year!!!

May your Week not be Weak but with Him! I send you my prayerful wishes for the week. (By Fr. Ray® VR.it)*

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